  How long will Japan be equivocating its war responsibility? -- Akahata editorial, October 23Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro in parliament has many times stated that he would not stop visiting Yasukuni Shrine. "I know that China isn't pleased, but there is nothing wrong with honoring the war dead. Must Japan act upon every 'yes' or 'no' response from China?" These remarks were made in relation to questions about his visits being an obstacle to the peaceful development of Japan-China relations. At issue is the prime minister's attitude toward the war of aggression that Japan had carried out. Reflection must accompany deeds Yasukuni Shrine is not just an institution to mourn the war dead. Prime Minister Koizumi's explanation that his visit is "honoring the war dead" is a deception. In the prewar years, Yasukuni Shrine was a special "war shrine" administered by the Imperial Army to enshrine the dead in the war of aggression carried out by the Tennoist (emperor) government. Its role was to drive the people into the war by implanting in them the notion that the highest honor is death in battle and enshrinement at Yasukuni Shrine. After the war, state shintoism was abolished and Yasukuni Shrine became a religious corporation. But this change is not based on self-reflection on the war of aggression. Instead, it praises the war of aggression. For example, this shrine extols "Manchukuo," the puppet regime in northeast China established by the Tennoist government. It ignores the people in Asia and the Pacific who were killed by the emperor's military. Class-A war criminals, including Tojo Hideki, who as prime minister ordered the people to fight the war, are enshrined together in this shrine as "gods." Regarding their war criminality charge as unjust, the shrine defends them as "Showa martyrs." Prime Minister Koizumi's "thanksgiving" is addressed to these Class-A war criminals, too. There is no denying that the action should be taken as approving as well as glossing over the war of aggression. Japan's soldiers, who had been conscripted and killed during the war, were responsible for the war of aggression. At the same time they were war victims. Beyond doubt, the lost soldiers might have cherished in their minds a grudge, distress, and resentment when they fell to the ground as a result of state orders. The only answer to their wish is for the government to adhere to the Constitution's preamble stating that "never again shall we be visited with the horrors of war through the actions of government." Only when the government mourns for the dead by pledging that it will never again commit crimes such as the erroneous war of aggression and colonial rule, can dead soldiers be mourned in the true sense of words. However, Koizumi's Yasukuni Shrine visit will only profane the honor of the dead and their bereaved families. As the person most responsible for Japan's politics, Prime Minister Koizumi must immediately take steps to get the Yasukuni Shrine issue resolved in accordance with constitutional principles because it is a national matter that must be settled irrespective of external pressures. If he truly reflects on the war of aggression and pledges to not wage it again, his initial step must be stopping his Yasukuni shrine visits. Don't harm peaceful co-existence Prime Minister Koizumi's lack of a true reflection of the past war of aggression, which sacrificed tens of millions of Asian people, has upset China. It has also increased questions among Asian countries if Japan is true to its pacifist Constitution, and has been shaking the basis of their trust and sense of affinity toward Japan. The Japanese people are wishing to develop relations of peaceful co-existence with neighboring China and other Asian countries. In order to achieve this goal, there is no alternative but for the prime minister to stop the arrogant and insensitive visits without delay. (end) |